Bar Blanc Bistro

After reading about Bar Blanc on this Board ages ago I finally decided to check it out last night. They have been open about 1 1/2 years and are now Bar Blanc Bistro. I went early for the Sunset Special, 5:30 - 7 pm, half price wines by the glass, draft beer and house cocktails. There was a couple at the bar, three "yelp" girls and three people next to me (thanks again for the conversation and to the gentleman who bought me a glass of wine). I started with a glass of wine. My server (she was exactly the type of server I like when dining alone at the bar) graciously let me taste several wines.

I started with some sides:

*Fries with Dutch fry sauce (not very different then mayo), Indian curry sauce (delicious) and chipotle honey mustard (very good).

*Cauliflower au gratin with gruyere cheese - good (was thinking I could probably make this at home)

Bar Blanc Bistro may be better for meat eaters because the pig's ear sounded interesting and a local wandered in later and got the burger and fries. The burger looked amazing and he looked really happy.

For my entree I had Long Island duck breast with corn puree, De Puy lentils and white wine thyme glaze.

Room was lovely. Only a few tables were full when I left around 8:30 pm. Not sure if I'll go back. Maybe for brunch. It's a great place to dine alone at the bar. If I was a local it would be a regular place for a drink (love the Sunset Special) and a light supper/snack (fries and sauces were very good), maybe to try some of the fish dishes.

We started off with the petite charcuterie plate (special) and the cheese selection. Both were excellent. To drink, we had an amazing sauvignon/semillon blend. Will call them and ask for the name, as it was a perfect complement to our meal.

My friend chose the halibut with clams (special), and I had the black cod. The halibut was good, but somewhat of a disappointment. "Clams" meant four clams mixed with a fair amount of scalloped potatoes. The cod was very nice - rich sauce, good portion.

We finished with the apple crisp for dessert; the added huckleberries coupled with the fromage blanc ice cream were were delicious.

I have to agree the ambience and decor are great.Was there on a Sunday night in May for around 8:30 p.m. and the restaurant was almost empty. Had a lovely salad, not overly exciting but all ingredients were incredibly fresh. We both had the pasta special which was just o.k.

I, too, am a fan of Bar Blanc Bistro, though I find that they have inconsistency among the bartenders. The food, however, has always been stellar. I love their coarse terrine, though I think they have recently swapped hazelnuts for pistachios. The pigs ears are good, not very different from pork rinds.